Need to provide free medical services to the needy: Kordi

KUWAIT CITY, Sept 9: Kuwait is known for its charitable activities and that of its people, which include providing medical services to citizens and expatriates at a low price — KD 1, reports Al-Rai daily.

However, some citizens and expatriates get medicines illegally to either sell, gift or donate them. The daily interviewed two outstanding figures who are experts in Islamic Sharia, particularly the religious opinion on the issue.

Kuwait Jurisprudence Encyclopedia expert and member of Fatwa Institution at the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Prof Ahmed AlHaji Al-Kordi pointed out that Islam advises patients to search for the cure. He quoted Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as saying that “Allah never created a disease without putting the cure for it.” He added that in some cases having an impure medicine is forbidden, indicating some scholars said it is allowed if the disease is serious and there is no pure medicine available to treat it.

He went on to explain it is not allowed to expose the loins of the patient except when the disease is se-

rious and life-threatening. He said if the patient is poor and cannot afford the cost of treatment, the doctor must provide the service for free.

He called on Islamic countries and charitable organizations to allocate a portion of their funds to provide free medical services for the needy.

On dealing with free medicines, Al-Kordi asserted the State provides free medicines for citizens and expatriates so it is forbidden for a patient to get the medicine and then send it to his father who lives in another country.

He reiterated that it is forbidden to obtain free medicines illegally.

On the other hand, the preacher, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Qattan, clarified that once the patient, whether a citizen or an expatriate, receives medicine from the Ministry of Health, it becomes his own property so it is up to him if he donates, gifts or even sells it.

He stressed there is no difference if the medicine is sold, donated or gifted to a person who lives in Kuwait or abroad. He was quick to add

though that this is possible only if the beneficiary is really sick and the medicine obtained is more than what the original recipient needs.

In case the person pretended to be sick just to get free medicine or got the medicine through illegal channels, he is considered a liar and swindler — these acts are strongly forbidden.

Therefore, the medicine should not be sold, gifted or donated as it was acquired illegally, he concluded.